Dean Kruse never actually got to use his Andy Granatelli Hall of Fame Museum in Auburn, Indiana, although he borrowed $3.1 million dollars to build the 22,500-square-foot edifice. That dream, among many others, died when Kruse’s world crashed down around him two years ago and Granatelli moved his plans to Indianapolis. The building has stood empty while the Dean V. Kruse foundation struggled with $2.9 million in debt. Many Kruse assets have already been sold, and The Star in Auburn reported that a court-ordered sheriff’s sale of the entire Kruse Foundation site had been scheduled for September 27. To head that off and have any chance of keeping other Kruse museums open (which presumably means the Victory Museum and National Military History Center), the empty Granatelli building had to go.

It sold this past weekend to South Dakota collector DeWayne Keiper for $995,000. Keiper’s plans are for a combination display/showroom on the site, for which you can probably make a business case, given the number of car people who come through the Auburn Auction Park in a year.

As for the other $2 million owed by the Foundation (which presumably is separate from any still-outstanding debts of Kruse Auctions, other holding companies, or Dean personally), the AP reports that there will be a November 24 auction of items from the National Military History Center to raise more funds. Kruse was reportedly hoping for $1.5 million or more for the Granatelli building.

6 Responses to “Former Dean Kruse property gets new lease on life”

Now that’s how you make money, buy low and sell high, not the other way around. Too bad Kruse had to lose out but good for Mr. Keiper for nabbing up a great deal and keeping this place open for business.

Sad, in reference to the apparent corrupt business practices of Kruse, et al. even the kindly hobby of auto enthusiasm has been marred by the same greedy shenanigans we have seen in Banking, Real Estate and the list goes on.